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Tennessee student suspended for saying "Bless You" in class

A Tennessee student was recently suspended for saying "Bless You" to another student in class. A submitted photo shows a list of words that are not to be used in the classroom includes the phrase "Bless You."

Dyer County, TN (CNN) - A young girl in Tennessee says she was suspended after breaking a class rule of saying "Bless You" after a classmate sneezed.

When Dyer County High School senior Kendra Turner said, “Bless you,” she says her teacher told her that was for church. Turner feels her teacher was taking issue for her religion. When she stood up for herself, Turner says she was told to go to the administrator's office, and later placed in in-school suspension for the rest of that class period. Her pastor tells me students had just talked about how to stand up for their faith last week.

Reverend Becky Winegardner - Turner's Youth Pastor: "There were several students that were talking about this particular faculty member there that was very demeaning to them in regards to their faith."

A student sent me this picture, it shows a list of words the student claims the teacher does not allow in the classroom. You can see "Bless You" is on the list. Turner's parents say the school leaders claim the outburst was a classroom distraction; that Turner shouted "Bless You" across the room.

WMC reports it was told only Dyer County School Superintendent Dwight Hedge could comment. It reports Hedge did not return phone messages, an email or a knock at his door.